Story Summary: Lilah wants to go on a date and Daniel is freaking out.

Ages: Rhen (15) Lilah (15)

First Date

"She's too young."

"She's fifteen, darling." Vala said with a roll of her eyes at her husband's attitude.

"Exactly! Fifteen is too young." Daniel declared.

"Need I remind you, Daniel, that I was already engaged by the time I was her age?"

"Oh, not a good argument." Daniel said with a visible shudder.

"I'm merely trying to point out that this is not as big of a deal as you are making it out to be. It's just a date with a boy that we already know very well."

"That makes it worse! I mean, his father-"

"Is a wonderful man and one of you best friends. Tyler is a good boy and very responsible."

"He rides a motorcycle!"

"It's a dirt bike, darling. And it's not like he's taking our daughter out on it. Carolyn has already agreed to drive them to the cinema and I am going to pick them up. What could be safer?"

"Oh, I don't know. Not letting our daughter sit alone in a dark theatre with Cameron Mitchell's teenage son, maybe?"

"Why is this such a problem, Daniel?" Vala asked angrily. "You knew it was going to happen sooner or later."

"That doesn't make it any easier. I mean, this is my little girl we're talking about."

"I hate to break it to you, darling, but your little girl is growing up. They both are. Pretty soon, you'll have two teenage daughters dating."

"Oh, don't even go there." Daniel said dejectedly, his chin going to his chest with a sigh. After a moment, he looked up and smiled ruefully. "I'm going to miss my innocent little girls."

"I know, darling." Vala said, placing a hand to his cheek and mirroring his smile. "I can't do anything about them growing up, but hopefully we've done enough to keep them innocent for a while yet. We just have to trust them to make the right decisions. They're good girls."

"I know that. And I know that Ty is a good kid, too. But I'm a dad and it's my job to worry."

"Of course, it is, darling, and you are doing a fine job of it, too. But I'm a mom and it's my job to make certain that their dad doesn't take his over-protective tendencies too far."

"Okay, okay, I get it." Daniel said with a roll of his eyes and kissed Vala's forehead.

"So, she can go?"

"Yeah, she can go."

"Yes!" came two excited squeals from the hallway.

"You can come out now, girls." Daniel laughed.

Rhen and Lilah slipped sheepishly into the study and sent twin grins at their parents.

"So, I take it you heard?" Daniel asked unnecessarily.

"Yes, thank you, Daddy." Lilah cried and wrapped her arms around her father's neck, kissing his cheek. "I promise, you won't have anything to worry over."

"I'd better not." he grumbled as he hugged his daughter. Over her shoulder, he spotted Rhen wearing a silly grin of her own but chose to ignore it for now. One battle at a time.

"Thanks, Mom." Lilah said as she released her father and hugged her mother.

"You're welcome, darling."

Lilah pulled away and joined her sister on the other side of the room, where they quickly entered their own bubble of excited chatter. Daniel sighed and placed his arm around his wife's shoulders, leaning in to whisper in her ear. "I still reserve the right to frighten Ty when he gets here."

"Yes, dear. Just think about it this way, though. At least she's not going out with Jacob O'Neill."

"Over my dead body!" he yelled as his eyes widened in horror.

Vala stifled her laughter but couldn't keep the grin from her face. She'd noticed Rhen's head pop up at the mention of Sam and Jack's son. Oh, boy. She was glad Daniel hadn't been paying attention and she sure wasn't going to tell him. Ignorance is bliss, as they say.

The End